Photo: Here is one of the beginning sessions where members of the Ivano-Frankivsk congregation began discussions on the upcoming 2020 budget to be submitted. Pictured clockwise: Sonya (translator), Pasha, Mykolya, Ruslan, Emmanuel, Andrew, Ivan, Gif.
One of the primary objectives in the fall mission trip was to work with the congregation and set an operating budget. Those who visited first (Joel Campbell, Henry Huffard and John Durham) began the discussion and helped the congregation think of budgeting realities and practicalities. It is good to dream but life’s reality must be recognized and planned in the operating budget.
This is an on-going effort that began several years ago as John Durham and I offered the first instructions on budgets. The initial efforts were not exactly commendable. With the passing of time it was thought to try again and this time it has been very different.
Setting a budget and operating by that budget is not an easy task. This difficulty becomes greater when the culture in which you live has never budgeted. It is a challenging learning process.
After the first group left those of us in the second group followed up on the foundation that had been settled. The process has been very good. The congregation has been overwhelming positive about setting its first budget and deciding how they will utilize the funds available to them in a responsible, accountable manner.
Today Ivan and Andrew had driven to Kyiv for a critical meeting regarding the TASK GROUP’S obfuscations. After that meeting, we enjoyed a good lunch and discussed a number of subjects. I asked how the budget discussions were going. Ivan instantly replied that they were very good and everyone was excited about it. He said, “You and John Durham helped us to begin but now these brothers have explained things in greater detail and have made everything clear. And now we know how to plan monthly and by the year how to budget the proper amounts.” This was a good explanation of the growth we want to see develop.
In the earlier meeting in Kyiv, we were commended for our great work in Ukraine and told how amazing it is to consider how many containers we have shipped into this country. Ukraine’s President Zelensky is setting people into positions that will assure Ukraine will not treat those who help her with the criminal arrogance that we suffered during the terms of the last two Presidents. We are assured that there will be absolutely no problems with our shipments such as we endured with the TASK GROUP. There are still those in government positions in Ukraine who do not want to see reforms occur because they will lose their power and money (in the USA such have become identified as “the Deep State”). President Zelensky and his party are facing this opposition but they are confident in their values and determined in their objectives. Much more is to be said about this and when time is right, I look forward to reporting “the rest of the story”!
Today I received a good message from Charita saying we had loaded a container out of Cudahy, WI, USA that was going to orphans and elderly in Tiraspol, Moldova. Charita wrote: “John M. loaded container with shoes and hosiery to Moldova today. Documents are ready. Before I sent them to Mark, if you have a minute please review. I need a second set of eyes to see any mistakes.” This container contained 3,465 pairs of new Dr. Comfort shoes and 6,000 pairs of compression hosiery that is designed to assist circulation in the lower legs!
The shoes loaded today are similar to those we tried to ship into Ukraine last September for orphans, war wounded, families of those killed fighting Russia, and the elderly. BUT the TASK GROUP stalled and delayed until Customs was about to seize the container so in March, we moved that container to Armenia. In this one instance TASK GROUP cost us $15,000.00 USD!
The final reckoning of this criminal arrogance is about to fall. God’s wrath toward those who act this way is well described by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, “Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them” (Isaiah 1:23, The Bible, Old Testament).
Those who mistreat the vulnerable will face the wrath of the Almighty God and no bribe and no explanation will prevent that from happening. The wrath of the Almighty God’s cannot be avoided! These had a choice and they chose for themselves and chose to insult the Almighty God. That insult to the Almighty will bring curses into the families of those who were a part of this group.
I continue efforts in Kyiv while Gif and Simba continue in Ivano-Frankivsk. Toward the end of the week they will join me in Kyiv for a few meetings here before we return to Montgomery on Saturday.
Pray for our on-going efforts!
John L. Kachelman, Jr. Kyiv, Ukraine
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